Concrete-mixing machine



Apr. 17, 1923. 1,451,819-` H. K. FOX ET AL CONCRETE MIXING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1922 3 sheets-sheet l Geary@ ffm/er? Apr. 17, 1923.

H. K. FOX ET AL CONCRETE MIXING MACHINE 1922 5 Sheets "Sheet 2 Filed March 27 Apr. 17, 1923.

H. K. FOX ET AL `CONCRETE MIXING MACHINE Filed March' 27, 1922 3 Sheets--Sheei'I 5 geofye, TIP-2571er l of the machine.

Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

HAROLD K. FOX, OF FRESNO, AND GEORG-E J. FTSHER, OF BIG CREEK, CALIFORNIA.

CONCRETE-B'LIXING- MACHINE.

Application filed March 27, 1922. Serial No. 547,115.

To all LU/10m 'it may concern.:

Be it known that we, HAROLD K. For; and Geenen J. FisHnn, citizens of the United States, residing in Fresno, county of Fresno, State of California, and BigCreek, county of Fresno, State of California, respectively, have jointly invented new and useful 1mproVements in ConcreteMiXing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for mixing and delivering concrete, or the like, and it is an obj ect of the invention to provide a machine of this general character which is simple, effective, and easily operated.

rllhe machine provided by the present invention is particularly adapted for use in mixing1 and placing concrete tunnel lining etc., although, we do not wish it understood that the machine is limited in any way to use in connection with any particular cl of work as Ait is obvious that it may he vantageously employed in practically any situation where concrete, or the like, is being used.

A noteworthy feature of the invention is the general arrangement and construction rIhe construction and arrangement is such that the machine is eX- tremely simple to operate, is compact, and is particularly effective. This makes it par ticularly applicable to use in tunnels, and the like, where space is limited.

Another noteworthy feat-ure of the invention is the manner in which the air, which operates the closure of the mixing drum, also aids the air iet of the ejector in. driving the concrete through the discharge conduits. This feature makes the machine particularheffective and eiiicient.

The various` objects and features of the invention will. be best and more fully under stood from the following detailed descrip tion of a typical preferred embodiment of the invention throughout which reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is av side elevation of the complete machine showing the mixing drum down, or in its mixing position; Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the mixing drum and the eiector being al view showing the relative positioning of the drum and ejector and show-- ing the manner in which the drum and eiector are connected; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine; Fig, 4 is a transverse de,-

tailed` sectional' view of the` machine, bef.

ing a view taken indicated by line 4 4.- on Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a detailed transverse sectional view of the machine being a view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 1.

The machine provided by the present invention comprises, generally, a frame 10, a mixing drum 11 rotatably and pivotally carried .in the frame 10 by a carriage 12, power means 13 for rotating the drum 11, means 14 for swinging the drum 11 about its axis of pivotal mounting, a pneumatic ejector 15, and a connector 16 between the drum 11 and ejector 15 whereby the material mixed by the drum is delivered to the ejector. The drum 11 may be, and in fact preferably is, of the general design and formation of drums ordinarily used in concrete mixers, and the like. For instance, the drum may be tapered from one end to the other so that it considerably larger in diameter at one end than at the other, and may be formed at its large end with an intake opening 18 and at its small end with a discharge or outlet opening' 19. The particular drum which I have illustrated in the drawings comprises an end fasting),` 2O which forms the large end of 'the drum.y au end casting' 2l, which forms the small end of the drum, and sheet metal parts 22 which are connected together and to the castings 2O and 21 to form the middle or body portion of the drum. The intake opening 18 and outlet opening 19 are formed concen1 ically in the castings 20 and 21, respectively. The casting 2O is formed with a concentric bearing part 23 adapted to be by snpport in; rollers, as hereinafter irilieil. and if n'med with a conci-inn trie part 24 which carries a toothed band or gear 25. The casting 21 has a concentric trrnnion part 26 which is rotatably carried in a bea ring 27 of the carriage 12, and is provided with a shoulder 28 which engages the end of the bearing 27 so that the end thrust of the drum borne by the bearing 27. A recess 2S is formed in the outer end of the bearing 27 to carry packing 29. A plate 30 isv secured to the end of the bearing 27 by bolts 3l and is formed with a. pro- 'iection 32 which extends into the recess 2S to bear against the packing 29 so that the packing is maintained in pressure engage ment with the triinnion part 26 of the casting 21. The packing 29 prevents airl from escaping from the machine between ythe vents the materials which are being handled by the machine from getting between the trunnion part 26 and bearing 27 to injure the bearing surfaces.

The connector 16 is, in accordance with the preferred torni oi the intention, in the form ol'I an elbow having one end secured to the plate 30 so that its opening registers with the outlet opening' 19 oi' the drum, and having the other end facing horizontally toward one side ot' the machine, as clearly illustrated throughout the drawings. The connection between the connector ,i6-and plate 80 is tight so that no air can escape from the ,machine at that point, Within the drum 11, for instance, on the inner surface oi' one of the sheet metal parts 22, we provide vanes which, when the drum is rotated, act to mix the material and to :feed it towardv theoutlet or small end.l

The present invention provides a closure orcover plate 36 'for the intake opening 18 o'i' the drum 11. The plate 36 is withinthe drumand is somewhat larger than the open-v ing` 18 so that its periphery portion engages the Vinner surface oil? the end casting 2O when it is in position to close the opening 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The cover plate 36 may be supported and guided by pins 37 extending outwardlytroln it through guide openings 8S in the end casting'A 20. ln accordance with the invention a hollow stem 40 extends from the plate 86 in wardly in the drum 11 and slidably lits into the outer end portion of an air pipe l1. The air pipe L1 passes through a packing` gland 42 in the connector 16, passes through the outlet openingr 19 of Athe drum 11, and ex tends a considerable distance intol the body portion oit Athe drum. as clearly shownk in Figi'. 2 of the drawings.` At a suitable point outside of the packing` `gland 42 the air pipe is connected with an air supplypipe 43 and an air exhaust pipe 14 by a three-way valve 45. There is preferably a flexible connection 41 between the pipe 4.1 and valve 45 to allow more or less movement between the pipe 'and valve andits connected parts. the pipes 43 and 44C. rilhe three-way valve 45 can he manipulated -to allow air from the supply pipe to enter the air pipe 111, or to allow air from the pipe 41 to escape or eX- haust through the exhaust pipe 414;. When air from the supply pipe 4t2 is allowed to enterthe pipe 4&1 it flows into the hollow rstein 40 which extends from theplate 36 and movesl the plate outwardly un'tilit enth'e inner-surface of the casting 20 or in other words to the position where it closesl the intake openingflS. `Ports 4:7 are provided in the "stem L1Y0 at a point where they will be `just out of the air pipe 41.. when the plate 36's in positin to close theop'enii ff Wimpie rides means, preferably in the 'term oi' a spring', :tor moving the plate 36 away from the casting 20 to open the opening, 18 when the pressure within the pipe- 41 and drum 11. is released, as by manipulating the valve 45 to close the connection between the supply pipe l5-l and the pipe 11 and open the con nec-.tion between the pipe l1 and the exhaust pipe 14. ln the particular :form ot the in vention illustrated in the drawings a tension spring` 418 is carried on the stein l() and end portion of pipe /11 between the plate 236 and collar 49 on the pipe atl so that it moves the plate 36 away from the casting 20 as soon the air pressure is released.

The carriage 12 comprises two side parts 5l.) which are pivotally connected to the side parts 51 oil? the main traine 1.0 on a common axis by pivotal. bolts 52, on which are guided the guide parts 75. of the -trarne 1G. The guide parts extend upwardly il'rom the side parts 51 of the .trame 10 so that vthe outer end portion ot the carriage is between them and guided in its swinging movement. T he inner or pivoted ends of the side parts 5() of the carriage are connected by a cross part 53 at the center ot which is the ybearing' 2l, which carries the trunnion part 26 of the drum 11.. The tree or outer ends ot the side parts are connected' by a yoke or U-shapeil tra me Sel in which is mounted. a i'ilurality oi rollers which engage the concentric bearinn` part 23 ot the drum to rotatably support the lai-gre end of the drum in the carriage. The various parts of the machine are arranged and proportioiied so that the drum 1l is rotatably supported inthe carriage 12 by the liearinp; 2T and vLtshaped Atrame part 5st so that the outlet end part of the connector 16 is concentric with the axis oit the pivot bolts 52. i

The power means 13 provided for rotating.;- the drum 11. is. in accordance with the prelierred Form olf the invention. mounted on the carriage 12 so that it'and the drum 11 can be swung' about the axis ol the pivot bolts as a unit without in any way interfering with tho drive oi the drinn. The

power means may he :in electric motor mounted on a convenient part oit the carriage 50 so that it ivi-ll drive a shaft 61 which carn ries a pinion 62 #het meshes with the gear 25.

as clearly illustra throiinherit the drawings. ln practice it is usually desirable to provide a speed reduction mechanism 5? between lhc motor 60 and shai't 61 so that the drum 1l will not be driven too tast.

'lille nieuwe i-lluliif'li here ili the drav-rizni. or operating' or swingguigj the carriage 12 about itsI axis of pivotall connor tion with the main iframe 1 0, conipriscstwo pneumatic jacks eonnected by pipes 'Z1 so that theyare controlled by 'a single valve 72, The jacl'r's'are mounted on the frame 10 and are connected with the outer Vends o" the Vside parts 50 and the carriage by chains 78, which connect to the ends ot the side parts 50 and extend over pulleys Tl mounted on the upper ends oi the guide parts 75 of the frame 10, and cables 7G which connect to the chains 73, extend around pulleys 78 at the lower ends et the guide parts 75 and connect with the piston rods 77 of the jacks 70. From inspection of the` drawings7 and particularly Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be obvious how the jaelrs TO may be operated to cause the carrier 12 to be swung from a position such as is shown in Fig. 1 to a position where its outerI end is between the upper end portions ot the guide parts 75 and the center line or ot tl e drum 11 is in a position such is indicated by the dotted line A. in Fig. 1.

The ejector 15n which may be a stationary part, comprises a conduit 80, which connects to7 and receives concrete trom. the connector 16, and an air nozzle 81 which ein tends into the coi'iduitfill .so that it directs 1i jet ot' air into the conduit @O to draw mate rial into the conduit 80 Vfrom the drum 11 through the connector 16 and discharges it trom the conduit 8O into a distributinopipe 81 which carries it to the point where it is to be used. The conduit 80 is preferably, although not necessarily` in the form of el.- bow and the nozzle 81 is directed toward the distributing pipe 81. A suitable control valve S4.- is arranged in connection with the nozzle 81 so that the jet of air can be reguf lated. When the ejector 15 is stationary with the frame 10 it is necessary that the connection between the ejector and connector 16 be such as to allow the connector to turn relative to it when the carriage 50 is swung about its axis of pivotal. connection with the iframe 10. The connection or joint which we lave illustrated comprises a coupling part 90 and two rings 91, one secured to each, ot the connected parts, that is one secured to the connect-or and one to the conduit 80 the rings 91 bein fr screw threaded on the ends of the couplings. This arrangement and construction provides a very simple. yet effective flexible joint which will allow the necessary turning; movement between the connected parts.

When operation oil the machine is started the carrier is in the-down position so that the drum 11 is substantially7 horizontal. the power means 13 is thrown into operation so that the drum 11 is constantly rotatedr tbc three-way val i e #i5 is positioned so that there is no pressure in the air pipe /l-l thus allow ius; the spring i8 to hold the plate 36 away from the end casting 2O 'that the intake opening: 1S is open. and the rock` sand ccment. water^ etc.1 or whatever other ingie diente are to be mixedn are emptied into the drum through the opening 18. When the batch of material. is in the drum 11 the three.

. the ai.

-tion it will be noted that ,the ma..

way valve 45 is manipulated so that air Yfrom the air supply pipe i5 enters the pipe el and forces the plate 35 into its closed position whereupon a part of the air escapes through the ports il so that some pressure builds up in the drum 1l and so that there is a li i i ot air out et the drum through the connector lo and cciului til-Tl et' the ejector` The con tinuous rotation of the drum causes the ma terials to lbe effectively mixed, the Janes acting` to more or less churn the materials to intimately mix them. lllhen the materials are mixed, or when the concrete has been Jormed, the ejector having been put into operation by opening; the valve 4to. the jacks F0 are operated by opening the valve so that the carrie 'e 50 is moved to its upper position causing-.ij the drum 11 to assume a tilted position which causes the concrete in it to discl'iarg'e through 'the outlet openinff; and connector 16 into the ciector which eifertively forces it out through the distrilfuting pipe 81. When the drum 11 tilted the venes are effective in 'Feeding' the concrete toward the small end oil the drum and therefore out through. the opening 19 and the flow ont air from the drum 11 through the open f 19 and connector 16 operates to aid the action o the ejector. lllhen the batch oi` concrete has` been discharged the air is released trom the jacks allowing` the carrier 12 to move by `@gravity to its lower position. It will be obvious, oi course1l how the distributing; pipe 81 may be of such size and length as to properly conduct the concrete to the point where it is to be used. *rom the foregoing descripme is simple in operation. compact, it will. be obvious how it can be very advantageously operated in tunnels, and the like, where space is limited and where compressed air and electricity are the most afb i mediums for operating such machinery.

Having; described only a typical preferred form of our invention we do not wish to limit ourselves to tbe particular details hercinabove set forth but wish to reserve to ourselves any changzes and variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or that may fall in the scopo oi" the following claims.

l'lavinoj described a preferred "form o'tour invention. we claim 1. In machine ot the character described. a mixing; mechanism adapted to be tilV 1. to discharge .material mixed by it a sta-- tionary ejector Hdaptcil, lo handle material mixed by the mi. mechanism. and a (loro ible connection between the mixing; mechan nism and the ejector.

2. ln a 1machine ot the character described. a mining; drum. a tilting: carrier Jor the drum adapted to normally hold the carrier in a substantially horizontal position and adapted to be tilted to discharge material mixed by it7 stationary ejector, and acoiuiection bctii'eeu the lruni and ejector to receive ina."- tei'ial from the ilruin and deli ver it to the ejector.

3. .ln a machine oit the character described, a rotatable mixing drum having a discharge opening' at one end and adapted to be tilted to discharge material through the opening, a connector having an intake end connected with vsaid opening! so that it receives material. from the opening and so that the drum is tree to rotate relative to the connector and havine' a discharc'e end concentric with the axis about which the drum is adapted to tilt, and an ejector connected with the discharge end of the connector to receive material therefrom and so that the connector can rotate relative to the ejector.

4;. in a machine oi? the character def-scribed7 a mixing,Y drum` having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a` closure for the inlet opening, and p neumatic means :tor actuating' the closure, said means discharpging` air into the drum when the closure is in position to close the opening. i

5. ln a. machine ot the character described, a rotatable mixing drinn havin;T an outlet opening, a pneumatic ejector connected with said opening' to receive material trom the drum, and means tor supplying air to the drum so that it will flow to the ejector with the material.

6. ln a machine ot the character described, a mixing),- drum having an inlet opening and an outlet opening', a pneumatic ejector con nected with the outlet opening,v to receive material from the drum, a closure tor the inlet opening, and pneumatic means tor actuating the closure, said means discharging. air into the drum when the closure is in position to close the opening.

l 7. ln a machine of the character described, a mixingdriim having an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening?,1 at the other end and adapted to be tilted about an axis at its discharge end, a closure plate tor the inlet opening, an air pipe extending into the drum through the outlet opening, and a stem on the plate extending` into the it is actuated by airpi'cssiire in Y 8. ln a machine et the character dei. a mixingdrum having;` an inlet openinppa closure plate ttor tbe opening', aiirl two parte, one an aii' pipe and the other a stem on the plate coopei'atingv with the air pipe so that the plate is actuated by air pressure in the pipe, one ot the parts having,` a port which is covered by the other part when the plate is in position where the opening` is open and is open so that air escapes Ai'roin the pipe into the drum when the plate is in position to close the opening.

9. ln a machine of the character described, a trame, a carriage pivotally mounted in 'the trame, pneumatic means for swinging the carriage, a mixingl drum rotatably mounted in the carriage, the drum having an intake openingand an outlet opening, a stationary pneumatic ejector, a connection between the outlet opening and the ejector7 a closure plate `for the intake opening, an air pipe extending into the drinn through the outlet opening, a hollow stem extending 'from the plate into the pipe so that the plate is moved to a position where it closes the opening bv pressure in the pipe, the stem having a port which is covered bv the pipe when the plate is in position where the opening' is open and is uncovered to allow air to escape from the pipe into the drum when theplate is in position to close the opening, and a springr arranged in connection with' the plate tomove it to a position where the opening is open when pressure is released trom the pipe,

l0. In a machine of the character described, a mixing mechanism adapted to be tilted to discharge material mixed by it, means for supplying' air to the mixing mechanism to aid the discharge of material therefrom, a stationary pneumatic ejector adapted to handle material mixed by the mixing mechanism, and a flexible connection between the mixing` mechanism andthe ejector.

11. In a machine of the character described, a frame, a carrier having` one end pivotally connected with the Yframe, means fior swinging' the carrier relative to the iffame7 a mixing drum rotatably mounted in the carrier, the drum having an l inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at the other end and being' convergently ta.- pered toward 'the end having' the outlet opening, power' means mounted on the carrier tor rotating;r the drum7 a closure furthe inlet opening, pneumatic means tor actuating the Vclosure and adapted to discharge air into the drum when the closure is in position to close the opening, a pneumatic ejector, and a flexible connection between the outlet opening' ot the drum andthe ejector.

ln witness that we claim the foregoing` we ha ve hereunto subscribed. our names this 10th day ot Feb., 1.922.v l

'minerai x. rox.l

'GEORGE J. FISHER'.

Vllilitnesses:

PHILLIP Nori', y Amon E. WrLLi'AMS. 

